FILE – This Oct. 10, 2013 file photo shows an epinephrine auto-injector that Tyler Edwards, 12, of Hendersonville, Tenn., carries with him because of his allergies. On Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, the federal government is issuing its first guidelines to schools on how to protect children with food allergies. The voluntary guidelines call on schools to take such steps as restricting nuts, shellfish or other foods that can cause allergic reactions, and make sure emergency allergy medicine _ like EpiPens _ are available. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

ATLANTA — The federal government is issuing its first guidelines to schools on how to protect children with food allergies. (See guidelines here).

The voluntary advice calls on schools to take such steps as restricting nuts, shellfish or other foods that can cause allergic reactions, and to make sure emergency allergy medicines like EpiPens are available.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the guidelines on its website Wednesday.

About 15 states — and many schools or school districts — already have policies of their own. But experts say many of their policies are probably not comprehensive.

A recent CDC survey estimated that about 1 in 20 U.S. children have food allergies.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.